SoCon baseball player, pitcher of the week announced

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Samford second baseman Jeffrey Ince and ETSU starting pitcher Jace Hyde have been named the Southern Conference player and pitcher of the week, respectively, for all competition from April 14-20. The awards are selected by the league office.

Ince hit .429 this week, going 6-for-14 against VMI in the weekend series. The Jackson, Mississippi, product scored one run on no hits and two walks in game one of the series, an 11-8 setback  for the Bulldogs. On Friday, April 18, the second baseman scored two runs and tallied two RBIs on two hits, which were a double and a home run, in a 9-2 triumph. In the final game of the series, a 16-4 win, the junior went 4-for-5, scoring four runs on three home runs and a double. For the series, Ince logged four home runs, two doubles, and seven RBIs.

Samford (22-17, 8-4 SoCon) will host Alabama on Tuesday, before welcoming Western Carolina for the weekend series set to begin on Friday.

Hyde pitched a complete game, seven-inning, 11-0 shutout against Mercer on Friday, April 18. The sophomore right-hander allowed just two baserunners and struck out six, logging the first shutout of the Bears in 42 games. The Athens, Tennessee, native retired the last 10 batters he faced, boosting his record to 6-0 this season.

ETSU (27-11, 8-4 SoCon) will go to Appalachian State for a Tuesday matchup, then travel to Toledo for the weekend series beginning Friday.

Also nominated for player of the week: Tristan Curless (ETSU), Brantley Truitt (UNCG), Kazuya Jordan (VMI) and Ryan Wynn (Wofford)

Also nominated for pitcher of the week: Daniel Thompson (UNCG) and Cameron Keshock (Samford)

2025 SoCon Players of the Week
Feb. 17 Ryan Wynn, So., SS, Wofford
Feb. 24 Bradley Frye, Sr., SS, Mercer
March 3 Mason Holton, Sr., INF, Western Carolina
March 10 JD Yakubinis, R-Sr., C, ETSU
March 17 Cade Carr, So., C, Samford
March 24 Brayden Corn, Jr., OF, Western Carolina
March 31 Boston Torres, So., OF, VMI
April 7 Bradley Frye, Sr., SS, Mercer
April 14 Blake Jacklin, Sr., OF, ETSU
April 21 Jeffrey Ince, Jr., 2B, Samford

2025 SoCon Pitcher of the Week
Feb. 17 Jay Miller, Jr., RHP, UNCG
Feb. 24 Caden Plummer, Sr., RHP, VMI
March 3 Colton Cosper, Sr., LHP, Mercer
March 10 Brandon Langley, Jr., RHP, Western Carolina
March 17 Champ Davis, Jr., RHP, Wofford
March 24 Josh Leerssen, Gr., RHP, Samford
March 31 Mason Blasche, Fr., RHP, Samford
April 7 Miller Riggins, Sr, LHP, Samford
April 14 Brady Frederick, So., RHP, ETSU
April 21 Jace Hyde, So., RHP, ETSU